Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources

Ada and the Helpers follows Ada and her friends on an exciting adventure that inspires friendship, helping others, inclusion, and finding your strengths. In addition, children can learn the ASL alphabet at the same time! The rhyming nature of the story is welcoming for hearing kids, but is especially helpful for young children who are hard-of-hearing.

Ideal for parents of nonverbal children or children with communication impairments (ages 3-6), American Sign Language for Kids offers a simple way to introduce both parents and children to ASL.

This book lays the foundation for ASL learning as readers explore the five parameters of signing: handshape, location, movement, palm orientation, and non-manual markers.

This book provides practical, effective tools to teach your baby relevant signs such as “more,” “all done,” “milk,” and others, all while having fun.

Allows babies to communicate long before they can speak, some before 9 months. Reduces tantrums and frustration, and increases bonding between parent and child. Exposes baby to a real second language: American Sign Language (ASL). Increases baby’s vocabulary and may even increase IQ.

Video Duration: 30 min

This book is helpful for parents looking to learn and teach their preverbal babies how to communicate using sign language. By using song and nursery rhymes to teach the babies, it helps improve their vocabulary and cognitive skills. This book provides illustrations depicting the signs and hand formations. 

Little Bear feels the world around him. All around him he hears the familiar refrain: “Can bears ski?” Then Dad Bear takes him to see an audiologist and they learn that Little Bear has been experiencing deafness. With new hearing aids, he discovers that “Can bears ski?” is actually “Can you hear me?” His new world is loud and will take some getting used to, but with the love and support of Dad Bear, Little Bear will find his way.

This book is helpful for parents looking to learn the different options for deaf or hard-of-hearing children. It contains information ranging from tests to cochlear implants and other hearing devices. This book also offers unbiased information on communication options like: Auditory-Verbal, ASL-English Bilingual, Cued Speech, Auditory-Oral, and Total Communication. 

A comprehensive and parent-friendly handbook written by members of the Dallas Cochlear Implant Program to serve the needs of parents considering CI implantation for their children.

Dachy isn’t embarrassed by his hearing aid, but sometimes his friends are so loud he has to turn it off. One day, he does just that to get some peace and quiet, but that’s the last thing he ends up getting. The adventure that follows drives home the importance of listening to and caring for your friends as well as appreciating differences in others and overcoming personal obstacles.

Deaf Culture 101 is a photo book containing over 50 memoirs, stories and 535 questions about Deaf Culture, American Sign Language and ASL interpreting. 

For Teachers, Day Care Providers, and Parents – young kids want to learn about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture within a fun storybook! Duke the Deaf Dog Series Workbook includes everything you need for ages 3-5: Scripted lesson plans for easy 30-minute lessons, age appropriate worksheets, ASL sign and English handwriting practice pages, ASL vocabulary and ASL story video links. All materials are supplements for Duke the Deaf Dog ASL Series.

This book is helpful for early intervention professionals working with deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, by learning how to use interdisciplinary and collaborative programs to aid in communication, language and cognitive development.

The Shakur Series features Black deaf characters who use American Sign Language, offering a unique and inclusive reading experience for children. The illustrations showcase a signing family while the engaging text reinforces learning. These charming board books contain positive messages and practical lessons, support early childhood development, and encourage children to explore the world with Shakur.

This guide is designed to provide parents with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the challenges and celebrate the opportunities of deaf parenting.

This book is for parents and teachers to get a better understanding of a child who is deaf and their needs based on scientific research.

This book is helpful for parents who are curious about the science behind hearing impairments and language acquisition. The author uses her own life experiences with being a parent to a child with hearing loss and how to understand the connections between sound, language, and learning by interviewing professionals in the field and Deaf leaders. 

Learn idioms and phrases in American Sign Language covering all facets of everyday life. Silent with written English phrase or idiom preceding the demonstration of the sign language equivalent. Includes sentence examples.

Video Duration: 209 min

Jack Signs! is the story of a little boy who is deaf, his typically hearing sister and their Mum. When his Mum discovers a book of sign language, their family life is transformed and Jack blossoms with his new-found communication skills.

Designed for parents with various styles, this book is a complete, step-by-step guide and reference to raising a deaf or hard of hearing child

This book is helpful for any beginners looking to learn sign language. It has over 800 signs and uses photographs for signs, facial expressions and hand formations. The signs range from uses for school, work, around the house, in public, food and drinks, small talk etc. This book also talks about how to create sentences and modifiers in sign language.

Before Shepherd removes his cochlear implant processors at night, he asks his mama what love sounds like. Using poetic and playful dialogue, they explore not just what love sounds like, but what it smells, feels, tastes, and looks like. Together, they discover that love is much more than a sound. Readers will enjoy fun learning and ASL activities that promote early literacy development, available for free at the back of the book.

Mila wants to prove to her family that she’s a big kid. She uses her creativity, willpower, and even her new cochlear impant hearing devices, to tackle one big kid activity after another. But when faced with something new that she can’t figure out on her own, will Mila finally prove just how mighty she is?

Come join Mila and her family on their journey as they navigate the world of hearing loss, hearing aids and cochlear implants! Mila refers on her newborn hearing screening, and her family begins to navigate a new world. After two years, Mila’s hearing drops and she quickly becomes a candidate for cochlear implants. Her family does not know what to expect, and neither does Mila. This book touches on an ABR, initial diagnosis, the listening booth, the cochlear implant procedure and the multiple therapies that children with hearing loss require.

Written by Dr. Stacey Armas, a pediatric audiologist and passionate advocate for children with hearing loss, this book delivers a powerful message through rhymes and beautiful illustrations. By following children with hearing devices as they turn them into unique accessories that reflect their individuality, children learn valuable lessons about celebrating their differences and empowering young readers to embrace their uniqueness.

Duke the deaf dog does not like it when he is told “never mind”. Whether it happens at preschool or the park, both parents and children will relate to feeling left out when you aren’t part of the action. A great way to teach children that everyone deserves to be included in conversations

Nita’s Day teaches ten new and essential ASL signs for every parent and child to know: wake up, change, clothes, eat, potty, go, play, bath, book, and bed. The simple story about Nita and her parents teaches each sign in context and each page slides open to reveal accurate instructions on how to make each sign, plus tabs on the side of each page make it simple to locate every sign for later reference.

A picture book about a young girl who doesn’t want to go to bed with facts about ASL preceding the story.

This book is helpful for early intervention and education professionals. It includes information on audiological assessments and technological interventions, family-centered interventions, auditory-verbal therapy, and sign language. This book also gives strategies and advice for promoting social and academic success. 

In this book, Ava welcomes her hearing peers to her daily life, the way technology helps her navigate the world and explains common misconceptions about deaf people – and introduces some of her deaf heroes who have achieved amazing things. She talks about her experiences at school making friends with hearing children, and teaches readers the BSL alphabet and some BSL phrases.

This author shares personal narratives about her experience raising a son and daughter with cochlear implants, including excerpts from a journal she wrote following her son’s surgery describe exactly how he began listening and learning language with a cochlear implant.

This book is a stand-alone companion to Show Me a Sign, and a searing exposé of ableism, racism, and colonialism that will challenge you to think differently about the dignity and capacity within every human being.

Students will learn how to sign their ABCs, numbers, fingerspelling, colors, grammar basics, and common useful signs.

Video Duration: 30 min

Now learning time is Signing Time! Join Alex and Leah for a day at school as you learn the signs and songs about things to do and see in the classroom.

Video Duration: 30 min

This book is helpful for early education professionals and it talks about how to use sign language to improve classroom management and promote positive social skills. This book contains photographs of the signs and stories to help teach preschoolers sign language.

This book is helpful for early education professionals with teaching children how to sign through the use of music and play. It offers guidance on how to set up the classroom activities and photographs of the signs and hand formations. 

This book breaks down the important things today’s parents need to know and do, from first diagnosis to educational steps in the journey toward raising a listening and talking child. Chapters include tips (e.g., helping your baby or toddler ease into hearing device use, exposing him to language at home) plus easy to understand information on relevant topics such as pediatric hearing tests, IEP team roles, resources and more.

Some people are deaf. What does that mean? Using simple, engaging text and full-color photos, readers learn what deafness is, how it can be caused, and what daily life is like for someone who can’t hear.

This book is helpful for beginners as it uses photographs with in depth instructions to help with learning, understanding and visualizing basic American Sign Language. It explains the history behind sign language and topics such as: handshapes, fingerspelling, and signing etiquette.

This book is helpful for both early intervention professionals and families looking to better understand the science behind hearing loss and hearing impairments. It talks about hearing tests and hearing devices, like hearing aids or cochlear implants. The book also mentions spoken language and social-emotional functions. 

This book is helpful for parents and children looking to learn sign language. This book offers over 1,000 signs explained through illustrations and teaches how to fingerspell. It includes using sign language to create sentences for everyday terms.

This book offers a unique look into the parenting journey–one that is often filled with twists and turns. The author grew up hard of hearing and became deaf as a teen. When her own kids began losing their hearing, she figured she had all the answers as a professional and as a deaf person. She quickly learned it was a whole other ballgame to be a parent of deaf and hard of hearing kids. The author shares the twists and turns of her journey and the wisdom she’s learned along the way. The book includes stories from a variety of parents who share their experiences.

This book describes cochlear implant technology and communication interventions for children from birth to age 18.

Teaches the basics of American Sign Language, providing hundreds of words and phrases for young learners.

In this recording, you will learn to recognize and demonstrate 100 basic signs, the manual alphabet, and numbers from 1-20 as well as how to incorporate them into your practice immediately.

Video Duration: 338 min

This book offers parents critical information on everything from technical information to practical and emotional support. Among the subjects covered are causes of hearing loss; testing and assessment; technical advances in hearing aids, FM systems, and cochlear implants; the role of specialists including audiologists, otolaryngologists, geneticists, and speech-language pathologists; advocating for your child’s welfare in educational, social, and public environments; and practical solutions to everyday problems.

This is a simple article about the early intervention that can help children with hearing loss. It mentions the 504 plan and laws that can help children’s development.

Hearing loss can easily be misdiagnosed or easily overlooked but with accurate screening/evaluation practices, hearing loss can be identified and early and appropriate intervention can be initiated without delay. 

ASHA is a professional association for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. This site contains numerous resources, including topic-specific guides, continuing education opportunities, ASHA publications, articles, an online store, and the latest research. ASHA Special Interest Groups were created to promote specific professional interests among members, develop communication and networking in diverse professional settings, identify and convey concerns and needs to the Association’s governance, and assist in policy formation.

This document from the World Health Organization outlines the prevalence and impact of childhood hearing loss. It highlights that the majority of causes responsible for hearing loss in children can be prevented and offers strategies for action.

The Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) is a private organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all children affected by hearing and communication disorders through support, education, and advocacy. 

This organization supports families with young children with hearing loss. The website includes articles, videos, handouts, and eBooks to help families support young children’s development.

The Illinois Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (IL EHDI) program works to ensure that families of babies and children who are deaf or hard of hearing (dhh) receive appropriate and timely services. These services include hearing screening, diagnosis, early intervention (EI) and parent-to-parent support, provided through coordinated systems of care.  

This parent-driven, non-profit organization supports families with children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodologies.

As true partners, the IL EHDI (Early Hearing Detection & Intervention) and IL Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side (ILHV GBYS) staff work very closely to develop grant narratives, budgets, project methodology, work plans, and data measures. By having activities family-focused, this allows the program to address the screening and follow-up needs of all infants and their families in Illinois while reducing diagnostic loss to follow-up and increasing early intervention and parent-to-parent support enrollment.

ISHA’s Mission is to support and advocate for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and the individuals they serve with communication, hearing, and swallowing disorders.

The Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) website offers a variety of national and regional resources related to hearing and vision.

This website, developed by a team of hearing specialists at Boys Town National Research Hospital, provides information about hearing, supporting language development in children with hearing loss, preparing for school, and early intervention. Also in Spanish. 

An important part of the Early Intervention Team Guide to understanding the role of the Deaf Mentor as part of the Early Intervention team for families with children who have hearing loss.

This portion of the CDC Web site provides information for families and health professionals. The site contains statistics, research, and resources, including information about the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs and an online parent guide to infant hearing loss.